NOISE POLLUTION

Noise Monitoring in Kanpur City

Central Pollution Control Board has taken up a project for noise mapping for the entire city of Kanpur to prepare the strategy for reduction of noise level. Monitoring has been conducted at 07 residential, one sensitive (background) and 01 commercial area.

The noise levels are being monitored at these locations continuously for 24 hours and depicted in following graphs where diurnal variation has soon. The daytime means 6:00 am to 10:00 pm and nighttime means 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.

Noise levels comparison of different places of Kanpur City (December'2002)

It has been observed that at none of the place the noise level was within the limit indicating acute problem of noise persisting in the city. This study will be continued to cover the whole Kanpur city and for mapping of existing noise levels.

Noise monitoring at Kanpur during Deepawali festival

Monitoring was conducted to assess noise pollution due to firing of crackers in the area of Govindpuri (Residential cum commercial), Kanpur. There has been substantial increase in noise level due to firing of crackers on 4th November, 2002.

It was observed that noise level (Leq) reached upto 80.3 dB (A) with maximum level of 103 dB(A) during Deepawali night. These levels are far more than the prescribed limit and might have left detrimental effect on human health.

Noise Level During Deepawali Festival in Kanpur City

S. No.

Location

Date

Time

Leq

Peak

Lmax

Lmin

1

Govind Nagar (R+C)

01.11.02

18.50 to 19.20

67.5

100.7

81.4

56.2

2

Govind Nagar (R+C)

01.11.02

00.15 to 00.45

54.8

91.3

76.2

44.8

3

Govind Nagar (R+C)

02.11.02

11.00 to 11.30

69.3

106.5

88.4

59.2

4

Govind Nagar (R+C)

02.11.02

18.05 to 18.35

69.3

110.1

83.5

59.8

12

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

16.10 to 16.40

71.5

110.3

91.9

59.1

13

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

18.30 to 19.00

71.1

110.2

87.8

58.9

14

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

19.49 to 20.19

77.4

119.4

96.5

63.6

15

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

20.32 to 21.02

80.3

120.2

103.1

63.7

16

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

21.03 to 21.33

79.5

110.3

100.5

65.3

17

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

21.37 to 22.07

79.5

110.5

102.0

66.3

18

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

22.12 to 22.42

75.4

110.3

94.2

60.4

19

Govind Nagar (R+C)

04.11.02

23.00 to 23.30

74.7

110.3

95.6

58.2

20

Govind Nagar (R+C)

05.11.02

17.30 to 18.00

71.5

110.3

92.0

55.9

Noise Monitoring at Kolkata's Metro Rail

Several important transportation projects have been effectively executed to relieve the stresses during commuting in Kolkata for instance, the second Hooghly River Bridge, Eastern Metropolitan By-Pass , the Park Circus connector and Kolkata's Metro Rail. This report encapsulates the various features of the Kolkata's metro rail, which connects Tollygung (in the south) to Dum Dum (in the north), through the city's most busiest transport corridor carrying on average 2 lakhs commuters on any work day. The entire journey of 16.45 km is executed underground in 32 minutes which includes halt times at 15 intermittent underground stations. The metro rail drew CPCB's attention for the principal reason that there was no available information with us on this front and this high capacity and enviro - friendly transport mode in a city where land is scarce and the 'metro rail' was the first of its kind in India. In view of Delhi's metro rail construction approaching completion it was felt that a survey of noise levels encountered during the metro rail operation would bring out some interesting facts worth sharing with different agencies. The noise profiles have been drawn for major events and the exposure curves have been drawn to highlight the predominant dB (A) sound level ranges the commuters were exposed to.

Ambient Noise Level in Delhi during Deepawali, 2002

Ambient noise level monitoring was carried out at various locations in Delhi during Deepawali festival. It was found that noise levels were lower than previous year i.e. 2001, except at AIIMS and New Friends Colony. The long duration noise monitoring, conducted at Kamla Nagar shows appreciable reduction in noise level compared to previous year.

Noise Frequency Analysis at Bangalore

Frequency analysis and noise monitoring was carried out at 25 road crossings in Bangalore. Specific source noise monitoring was also carried out. The specific noise levels observed are as follows:

Source

Noise level (dB)

Pneumatic Stone Querry Drilling

109 dB

Railway Diesel Engine

82-90 dB

Railway Diesel Engine Horn

90-122 dB

Rajdhani Express (DG set)

101 dB

DG set at Railway Station

101 dB

Power Loom

95-97 dB

Flour Mill

91-104 dB

Airport Aircraft Starting Noise

92-102 dB

Fighter Plane takeoff

124-127 dB

Indian Airlines Plane takeoff

105 dB

Noise Monitoring at IGI Airport, New Delhi

A study on noise monitoring at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi was conducted in collaboration with IIT, Roorkee. The study recommended options to reduce noise level in and around the airport, particularly in areas of human inhabitations. The National Committee on Noise Pollution Control is looking into the recommendations for finalisation.

National Committee on Noise Pollution Control

Some major issues discussed by the National Committee on Noise Pollution Control are as follow::

· Noise labelling of consumer products;

· Finalisation of compliance procedure for noise limits for DG sets (upto 1000 KVA);

· Finalisation of compliance procedure for noise limits for generator sets (Petrol/Diesel);

· Necessity to develop standards for vibration;

· Implementation of Noise Rules, 2000; and,

· Revision of noise limits for motor vehicle horns prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards

Compliance Testing of Fire-crackers

Compliance testing of fire-crackers with noise standards was carried out in collaboration with Natinal Physical Laboratory, New Delhi. The objective was to study whether the noise limits of fire-crackers available in the market meet the prescribed norms and noise limits. The test results indicate that 87% of the samples exceed the prescribed limits. Based on the results, the Central Pollution Control Board has requested the Ministry of Environment & Forests to initiate steps to stop manufacture of noisy crackers, which exceed the prescribed noise limits.

Stationary Noise Measurement for 2, 3 and 4 wheelers

The project was initiated by the Central Board in collaboration with Automotive Research Association of India, Pune, to measure stationary noise levels of motor vehicles. The objective of the study is to develop a mechanism for setting and implementing noise limits for in-use motor vehicles, as it is not possible to implement the pass-by noise limits for in-use vehicles.

Sound Power Measurement of DG Sets

The Central Pollution Control Board in collaboration with National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, is in the process of measuring the sound power level of DG sets. The objective is to use the experience in development of compliance procedure for noise limits for DG sets.